COURSE SUMMARIES:

Utah General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Construction Activities

Utah requires an UPDES construction storm water permit for soil disturbances of an acre or more, including less than an acre if it is part of a common plan of development or sale (that is over an acre). Soil disturbance is described as clearing, grading, or excavating. These permits are necessary to ensure that discharges from construction sites will not adversely impact any applicable water quality standard.

This permit covers all types of construction disturbances of an acre or more. This permit also covers non-residential disturbances less than an acre that are part of a common plan of development.

Principles and Practices of Erosion Control

Throughout the U.S. and the world, erosion is one of the leading contributors to water impairment. Erosion is the process by which soil particles are dislodged by water or wind.  There is a natural rate of erosion on all soils across the planet, this course drives home how to address the artificially increased rate of erosion due to soil disturbance on a construction site. 

This course covers erosion and how it occurs; impacts of erosion on the environment and the economy; the factors that affect erosion; information on vegetation establishment; topsoil and fertilizers; mulch and compost; rolled erosion control devices; and surface roughening. 

Principles and Practices of Sediment Control

Sediment controls are devices or products which slow or pond the overland flow to dissipate water energy so that sediment will fall or settle out.  While the final stabilization aims at reducing the erosion across the site, this important step doesn’t usually occur until the last 10-25% of the project. Therefore, sediment control is the largest single control measure aimed at preventing the discharge of loose sediment from the site until erosion controls and final stabilization can be achieved.

This course is specifically designed for stormwater management and covers proper installation and placement of silt fence; check dams; wattles; inlet protection; pond types; outlet structures; flocculants; dewatering; and turbidity barriers as they relate to stormwater regulations.

Principles and Practices of Pollution Prevention

Stormwater regulations mandate that construction projects implement effective waste management practices.  Not only are these control measures required for compliance, but historically those with a better understanding of good housekeeping measures and implementing them experience less overall enforcement on their site.

This course covers good housekeeping practices, the proper installation and maintenance requirements of best management practices (BMPs), management of solid waste, sanitary waste, and hazardous waste; concrete washout; dust control; and construction exits.

On-Site Construction Inspections

This course covers inspection rules and protocol; reviewing the SWPPP for compliance; forms in the SWPPP; updating the SWPPP; site inspections of best management practices (BMPs): proper installation and maintenance of devices; and documentation of inspections.  Self-inspection is not only a requirement of the permit coverage for the site, but it also allows for a regular, methodical analysis of the deployed BMP’s. This allows the inspector to identify changes to the site, missing or inadequate control measures, as well as addressing any required maintenance or corrective actions to get the site back into compliance.